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Although tropical rain forests tend to grab the ecological headlines, tropical dry forests rival their more famous cousins with unique plant and animal life that must struggle to survive under harsh conditions. The severe seasonal droughts that help define this forest type have led to some unusual animal adaptations among certain amphibians and insects such as estivation, a summer-long sleep similar to hibernation. Other animals show increased mobility as they seek out distant water holes and creek beds to wait out the scorching heat until the rains return.

Mammals

In Africa, some of the larger animals such as the white rhino and the giraffe roam in both the tropical dry forest and across the savanna. Indochina also has its share of massive mammals like the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and the Kouprey (Bos sauveli), a highly endangered type of wild cattle. The majority of the mammals in the world's dry forests tend to be smaller, though, such as monkeys, pumas, jaguars, deer, squirrels, and rodents. One of the dwellers of the dry forests of Madagascar is the giant jumping rat (Hypogeomys antimena). About the size of a rabbit but with large hind legs that enable it to jump like a kangaroo, the giant jumping rat can leap straight up approximately three feet in the air to avoid local predators such as the puma-like fossa and the Madagascar ground boa.

Birds

Birds play an important part in the ecosystems of many tropical dry forests around the world. Unfortunately, many species are also endangered such as the orange-necked partridge (Arborophila davidi) of Indochina, the black-and-tawny seedeater (Sporophila nigrofufa) of the Chiquitano forest of South America, and the lesser florican (Eupodotis indica) of the Indian subcontinent. One success story among the threatened bird species is Hawaii's Nene Goose (Branta sandvicensis) which has come back from a population low of 30 to approximately 3,000.

Reptiles

A wide variety of reptiles inhabit the tropical dry forests of the world, many of them thriving in the hotter temperatures typical of the regions. Madagascar's western forests contain a large number of chameleon species as well as the world's most endangered tortoise, the Angonoka or Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora). The forests of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Java Sea are home to the rare Timor python (Python timoriensis) and the equally threatened Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest living lizard.

Insects and Arachnids

As in most parts of the world, insects abound in tropical dry forests. Common insects include several species of ants, beetles, and termites. Scorpions, which often thrive in drier climates, also make their home in some of the forests as do many types of spiders. The Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) hunts down its prey in the pacific coastal forests of Mexico. Although the male spiders die shortly after reaching maturity, the females of the species can live as long as 30 years.

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About the Author

John E. Roper is a freelance writer who has written articles for "The Arizona Republic," "The Daily Oklahoman," and several other newspapers and digital platforms over the past two decades. His play, "When I Was Five," has been produced in three countries. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1985.

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